The EE4-OBC software is a variation of Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) EE4 software which allows the comparison of a proposed building design's energy performance relative to a reference building meeting the 2006 Ontario Building Code's Supplementary Bulletin SB-10 requirements. You can use EE4-OBC to simulate a proposed building design when applying to Ontario Power Authority's (OPA’s) High Performance New Construction (HPNC)  program.

It is important that you read both the Modelling Guide for EE4 Version 1.7  and the Addendum to Modelling Guide for EE4-OBC.  These documents include information and directions that building simulators are likely to require, including updated detailed guidelines on how to model buildings and ‘Work Around Rules’ for handling known bugs.

If you are submitting designs to NRCan’s validation of new building designs  service, and not to HPNC, use EE4 Version 1.7  to simulate your building relative to the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. If you are submitting designs to both NRCan and the HPNC program, complete your simulation file using EE4 Version 1.7, open this simulation file in EE4-OBC, change the location to one of the five available Ontario regions, re-save the file under a new name, and your EE4-OBC simulation file is complete for submission to the HPNC program.

You can contact the Office of Energy Efficiency Buildings Division   if you have questions or comments about the software. For questions about the HPNC program, e-mail HPNC.